May 7, 2025, Chișinău – The Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom convened today in Chișinău for the fourth session of their Strategic Dialogue, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
The Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carolina Perebinos.
The Delegation of the United Kingdom was led by Chris Allan, Director of Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate (EECAD) of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
During the meeting, both sides commended the significant progress made on advancing a wide range of bilateral cooperation priorities since the last meeting in London on 30 April 2024. This was underpinned by dynamic high-level engagements over the year, with the meeting between President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit hosted by the UK in July 2024, and the visit of the Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Chișinău in November 2024 as notable highlights, marking the strong partnership and friendship the two countries enjoy.
The discussions highlighted the increased cooperation aimed at supporting democracy in the Republic of Moldova, strengthening national resilience, building the capacity of the national institutions, fostering bilateral trade and economic growth, and supporting free and independent media and civil society.
The Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom exchanged views on the regional security context, reaffirming their commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as to strengthening the Republic of Moldova’s resilience in the face of ongoing hostile interference from Russian-backed actors, enhancing its ability to respond to the ongoing security and humanitarian challenges. The UK will be investing £1.1 million in cyber capabilities in the Republic of Moldova to give it the tools needed to nullify Russian cyber attacks and ensure its upcoming parliamentary election remains democratic, fair and open.
The delegations conducted the first review of the implementation of the Defence and Security Partnership, signed on 20 November 2024. Emphasising the importance of this comprehensive framework of cooperation, the two countries committed to increasing their engagement in the areas covered by the partnership. This includes concrete joint actions to advance defence sector reform, counter hybrid threats, including malign cyber activity and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and to enhance cooperation in the areas of law enforcement, criminal justice, anti-corruption, and the fight against organized crime, including transnational crimes.
With a view of creating a structured framework for cooperation on law enforcement, a Letter of intent between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova and the Home Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on mutual cooperation and coordination in security matters was signed on the margins of the Strategic Dialogue.
Both sides underscored the need for close cooperation to respond in an efficient way to increasing foreign interference activities, including those in electoral processes. In this regard, the Republic of Moldova welcomed the adoption by the UK of sanctions against Russian-backed actors responsible for destabilising the country, undermining democracy and the rule of law, and threatening its peace and security.
Reaffirming their shared commitment to tackling corruption, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom will convene the first dedicated Dialogue on Combating Illicit Finance on 8 May in Chișinău. This marks an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation to address illicit financial flows and promoting transparency and accountability.
Building on the priority given by the UK and Moldovan governments to support their citizens with residence in the other country, the Republic of Moldova and the UK agreed the final details of the Memorandum of Understanding on Reciprocal Driving Licence Exchange and look forward to its signature soon.
The delegations welcomed the positive impact of the additional five-years tariff liberalisation by the UK for Moldovan products signed on 23 May 2024 in Chișinău. As a result, exports of plums, grapes and apples from the Republic of Moldova to the UK increased significantly in 2024 compared to the pre-liberalisation period, expanding trade opportunities for Moldovan agricultural products.
The UK congratulated the Republic of Moldova for the progress achieved in the process of the
Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, according to the will expressed by the people of the Republic of Moldova at the referendum on joining the EU held in October 2024. As the Republic of Moldova prepares to hold parliamentary elections this year, the UK reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending the Republic of Moldova’s democratic choice to pursue a path of freedom, independence, and sovereignty.
The Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their strong commitment to continue building a close and ambitious partnership across areas of mutual interest. The next meeting of the Strategic Dialogue is to be held in London, UK, in 2026.
The Strategic Dialogue was established according to the provisions of the Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed at the end of 2020, and takes place on an annual basis.
